Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business
February 14, 2021
(The @ signifies that the minute has been read and approved during Meeting. Please note that copies of all annual reports provided during this Meeting are on file with and available from the Clerk or Recording Clerk.)
2021.2.1 Opening Worship
Ithaca Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends met on-line, via Zoom remote for Monthly Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business on February 14, 2021. Clerk reviewed the agenda for Monthly Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business and recognized Asha Sanaker for holding the Meeting in the Light.
At 12:34 PM, 21 Friends settled into worship.
2021.2.2 Worship Sharing: Reflections on Brokenness, Part III
Clerk read reflections shared at December’s monthly meeting and posed three queries:
- Are there unexpected joys and/or sorrows about our Meetings for Worship or the IMM community that have risen for you this year?
- How have you experienced the quality and faithfulness of corporate worship in the past year?
- Where have you heard God’s voice this year? How can you be sure to hear what is being said?
Friends shared out of the silence on the mixed sorrow & joy of meeting remotely – a lack of face-to-face interaction balanced with the increase in accessibility of friends to our meeting; missing unstructured conversation time & its connecting quality; the joys of breakout rooms, Friendly Fives and “lighter” in terms of work committee meetings; gratitude for the work of the Communications Committee to help people use & connect via technology; experiencing God in corporate worship at Meeting for Worship faraway with Friends from around the world – and bringing back the experiences to share with IMM; the perseverance of Friends to make Zoom meetings connected, deep & meaningful.
2021.2.3 Ministry & Worship: Recommendation for Membership of Nichole Nettleton
On behalf of Ministry & Worship, Barbara Barry read the following:
The clerk received a letter in January 2021 from Nichole Nettleton requesting membership. A clearness committee, consisting of Gina Varrichio, Antonia Saxon, Barbara Barry, and Mike Simkin, met to consider the request. Nichole was forthright, thoughtful, and open throughout the clearness committee process and expressed a desire to become more deeply involved in the life of the Meeting. Her clearness committee enthusiastically recommends Nichole for membership in IMMRSF.
Friends approved this recommendation & welcome Nichole Nettleton into membership. @
2021.2.4 Annual Reports
Friends presented annual reports and answered questions for committees as follows:
Cai Quirk read the report of the Nominating Committee. Friends suggested the following:
1. To continue IMM’s discernment of right sizing emphasis on pastoral care,
2. To seek meaningful ways to engage young children in Quaker practice.
Garry Thomas read the report of the Ad Hoc Working Group for Immigrant Support aka The Working Group. A Friend acknowledged how working on this committee highlights the challenge of being new to the US & expressed gratitude for IMM’s ability to offer much-needed support. Another Friend let folks know about an ongoing Meal Train for Ambroise Lumanikio Nganyinoko’s family.
Barbara Barry read the report from the Ministry & Worship Committee. Friends expressed both admiration and deep gratitude for the profound work, spirit and impact of this group.
Marin Clarkberg read the report from the Communications Committee. Friends expressed gratitude for the hard & unexpected work of this committee, especially in terms of maintaining connection among & between each other. Clerk acknowledged that this committee together with M & W collectively served as Assistant Clerk for 2020.
Clerk, Gina Varrichio read the report from the IMM Historians and clarified the extent to which historian, Tom Brown has been meticulously cataloging IMM policy minutes.
Friends received these five reports.@
2021.2.5 Closing Worship
At 2:10, 17 Friends settled into worship before adjourning. Our next regularly scheduled Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business will be March 14, 2021.
Respectfully submitted,
Blair Jennings